Rep. Jim Cooper floats repeal of medical-devices tax

Plan seems unlikely to pass

6:34 AM,
Oct. 4, 2013

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper

Written by

Chas Sisk
| The Tennessean

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper backed a proposal Thursday to end the federal government shutdown by repealing a new tax on medical devices, but the plan appears to have little chance of passing.

Cooper, D-Nashville, said he would join a group of moderate congressional Democrats and Republicans seeking to reopen the federal government by reversing the 2.3 percent levy on medical devices that starts Jan. 1.

Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama have been cool to the prospect of offering any concessions in exchange for ending the shutdown. Earlier this week, Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for ...